The governor issued emergency regulations in September 2024 to require that industrial hemp food, beverage and dietary products intended for human consumption have no detectable THC or other intoxicating cannabinoids derived from the plant, such as delta-8 THC infused into edibles and beverages.
The regulations, intended to prevent children from accessing the products, also created a minimum age of 21 years to purchase nonintoxicating hemp products, such as those that contain CBD.
After the California Office of Administrative Law approved the governor’s emergency regulations later that month, they were adopted by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), making hemp-derived THC products illegal.
Following that September 2024 adoption, the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) began visiting licensed alcohol establishments within its jurisdiction to enforce the law, inspecting 11,445 businesses and removing 7,151 prohibited products from 148 locations, according to the governor’s office.
However, since the beginning of 2025, the ABC reported that licensed alcohol establishments have been 99.7% compliant with the regulations—16 violations during 5,478 site visits. ABC businesses that fail to comply with the law face license revocations as well as potential legal ramifications.
“Our licensees have overwhelmingly complied with the regulation,” ABC Chief Deputy Director Frank Robles said Thursday. “On the few occasions when ABC agents found items during inspections, they’ve ensured these harmful products are removed from shelves.”
Despite its agents finding a near-universal compliance so far in 2025, the department will continue to visit licensed locations throughout the state to enforce the regulations, providing weekly updates of violations.
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